Succeeded by:

oung Henry VIII was handsome, athletic, energetic, well educated, talented and insecure. He craved respect – international, intellectual, cultural and dynastic. So he reopened the war with France, opposed the theology of Martin Luther, created a sophisticated court, and moved heaven and earth to have a son. The resulting multiplicity of wives is infamous. (NOTE: Henry’s marital adventures are outlined in the individual biographies of his queens).

Henry was impatient with the details of governance and policy. He delegated responsibility to powerful ministers but always watched events closely, intervening in matters of interest.

In his early years, he worked through Thomas, Cardinal Wolsey. Wolsey and Henry focused on diplomacy and strategic alliances to leverage England’s international position. Wolsey’s inability to obtain Henry a divorce from his first wife, however, led to his downfall.

Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Cromwell now emerged. They gained Henry his marital freedom from Katherine of Aragon by separating the English church from Rome. Henry’s next step, the dissolution of the monasteries, was popular with the nobility (who profited) but, to Henry’s shock and fury, provoked a northern uprising. He firmly quashed it. Without the counterbalance of a powerful clergy, Henry now grew increasingly autocratic, manipulating both church and Parliament.

As Henry’s religious and political affairs (and marital problems) became even more complicated, he grew increasing egotistical, self-righteous and suspicious.

In his later years, Henry’s thoughts turned to conquest. He invaded Scotland, seeking unsuccessfully to force a marriage between its infant heiress, Mary, and his own son, Edward. He also mounted a massively expensive and ineffective invasion of France.

An ailing Henry, in his will, outlined the succession: Edward, then his sisters Mary and Elizabeth. To his young heir, he left a country deeply in debt, with a privy council divided among scheming factions. Henry died at Whitehall, an old man at the age of 55.